Integrating technology into students' learning is an integral component of our curriculum as it prepares children for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. This article, "Why Integrate Technology into the Classroom?" from edutopia explains the reasons for this model of education. It's a good place to begin the discussion . . .
Cyber Safety
Under faculty supervision students at all grade levels in our school have the opportunity to create multimedia projects using a variety of digital tools. So, learning to behave respectfully, safely, and ethically on the Web is an important part of the school library and class curriculum. We are lucky to have many resources at our disposal to ensure that students learn these crucial 21st century skills as they take advantage of the numerous Web 2.0 communication tools.
Both the library and classroom curriculum includes discussion about safe and ethical behavior on the Internet. Some of the safety rules we discuss are:
Cyber Safety
Under faculty supervision students at all grade levels in our school have the opportunity to create multimedia projects using a variety of digital tools. So, learning to behave respectfully, safely, and ethically on the Web is an important part of the school library and class curriculum. We are lucky to have many resources at our disposal to ensure that students learn these crucial 21st century skills as they take advantage of the numerous Web 2.0 communication tools.
Both the library and classroom curriculum includes discussion about safe and ethical behavior on the Internet. Some of the safety rules we discuss are:
- Keep your personal information private.
- Never give your password to anyone else.
- If you receive an online message that makes you feel uncomfortable, do not reply and tell a trusted adult as soon as possible.
- Never give out your photograph, address, phone number, email address or password to someone you meet online.
- Keep your user name neutral.
You can continue the discussion at home and these are some resources on the Web you can use with your children to reinforce safe behavior on the Internet.
Web Resources
BrainPopJr for younger students contains a free animated movie, activities and games on the topic of Internet safety. You do not need a user name and password to access this topic. However, all the other content of this informative and lively database is password protected. We have a subscription to BrainPopJr so please contact Sarah in the library for our school's user name and password, which you will need to access the rest of the database.
BrainPop for older students contains animated movies, activities, and information on a variety of technology issues including digital citizenry. Please contact Sarah in the library for our school user name and password, which you will need to access the database.
ConnectSafely.org is a project of Tech Parenting Group, a nonprofit organization to help everyone - adults and children - learn how to use the Web safely together.
Family Safety Tips from Google
Growing Up Online from Carolyn Jabbs.
OnGuardOnline.gov's Net Cetera campaign provides information and resources, including short videos, about helping kids make safe, responsible decisions when they're online. For example, here is a short animated video for students from OnGuardOnline about being mindful about what you post online.
NetSmartz from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children contains many resources for parents and guardians including videos, tips, discussion starters, and information handouts.
Safekids: Online Safety and Civility created by Larry Magid a technology journalist and author.
A Thin Line from MTV and other media partners teaches teenagers and young adults about safe behavior on the Internet. The site includes information, advice and quizzes on a variety of topics. The resources on this site are for older students.
Webonauts Internet Academy from PBS Kids Go! Elementary age children participate in missions and graduate from the academy with knowledge about media literacy and digital citizenship. The site includes interactive games.
Parent Media Tips from Commonsense Media. Short videos, newsletters, handouts, Web links and other resources to help parents talk about using media responsibly with their children.
BOOKS
Cyber-Safe Kids. Cyber-Savvy Teens: Helping Young People Learn to Use the Internet Safely and Responsibly. By Nancy Willard, 2007.
MySpace Unraveled: What It Is and How to Use It Safely. By Larry Magid and Anne Collier, 2006.
"Own Your Own Space - Keep Yourself and Your Stuff Safe Online" Digital Book for Teens by Linda McCarthy.The entire book is available as a free download.
The Health Information Project at your public library has books and DVDs available for loan that will help teenagers and parents safely navigate the Internet.
Web Resources
BrainPopJr for younger students contains a free animated movie, activities and games on the topic of Internet safety. You do not need a user name and password to access this topic. However, all the other content of this informative and lively database is password protected. We have a subscription to BrainPopJr so please contact Sarah in the library for our school's user name and password, which you will need to access the rest of the database.
BrainPop for older students contains animated movies, activities, and information on a variety of technology issues including digital citizenry. Please contact Sarah in the library for our school user name and password, which you will need to access the database.
ConnectSafely.org is a project of Tech Parenting Group, a nonprofit organization to help everyone - adults and children - learn how to use the Web safely together.
Family Safety Tips from Google
Growing Up Online from Carolyn Jabbs.
OnGuardOnline.gov's Net Cetera campaign provides information and resources, including short videos, about helping kids make safe, responsible decisions when they're online. For example, here is a short animated video for students from OnGuardOnline about being mindful about what you post online.
NetSmartz from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children contains many resources for parents and guardians including videos, tips, discussion starters, and information handouts.
Safekids: Online Safety and Civility created by Larry Magid a technology journalist and author.
A Thin Line from MTV and other media partners teaches teenagers and young adults about safe behavior on the Internet. The site includes information, advice and quizzes on a variety of topics. The resources on this site are for older students.
Parent Media Tips from Commonsense Media. Short videos, newsletters, handouts, Web links and other resources to help parents talk about using media responsibly with their children.
BOOKS
Cyber-Safe Kids. Cyber-Savvy Teens: Helping Young People Learn to Use the Internet Safely and Responsibly. By Nancy Willard, 2007.
MySpace Unraveled: What It Is and How to Use It Safely. By Larry Magid and Anne Collier, 2006.
"Own Your Own Space - Keep Yourself and Your Stuff Safe Online" Digital Book for Teens by Linda McCarthy.The entire book is available as a free download.
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Ethical Behavior
One of the responsibilities of being a twentieth-century learner is behaving ethically on the Web. In other words, students need to cite the sources of information they find on the Internet in whatever format - text, images, video or sound. Sometimes, it is hard for students to know what they can or cannot use from the Internet, in what format they can use the information or multimedia, and how to cite their sources correctly. In order to motivate students to be creative with their research and to behave ethically with the information they use, we have a subscription to NoodleBib. NoodleBib takes students through the different stages of the research process with guidance and support at each stage. Ask me for our school's username and password to access this tool.
